A robust, rich white that, alongside Roussanne, embodies the intensity and opulence of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other Rhône white blends, as well as the Spanish white Rioja.
Marsanne
The broad-shouldered, golden emblem of Hermitage in the northern Rhône. It creates a deeply aromatic wine that develops a honeyed sheen and smoky, coffee-bean roasting with maturity.
Viognier
Outside the northern Rhône, this decadent aromatic white flourishes in Australia, Virginia, and California. Louisa Rose, head of sustainability at Yalumba, the trailblazing Australian winery, characterizes Viognier as “a white wine for red wine enthusiasts.”
Savagnin
The principal white varietal of the Jura, which, aside from Vin Jaune, is frequently combined with Chardonnay and sold as L’Étoile or Côtes du Jura. Generally smoky, nutty wines with baked apple and pear characteristics sprinkled with hints of salt and white pepper.
Riesling
While most acknowledged for its lively, linear profiles, riper, semisweet Auslese or full-bodied dry varieties can reveal Riesling’s more intricate, textural, and savory dimensions. While iconic in Germany, it can also be found in Austria, France, the US, and Australia.
Chenin Blanc
In dry, more substantial forms, Chenin acquires a structure that is both rich and robust—consider Savennières and Chinon in the Loire Valley. Lush and adorned with charred herbs, these wines are complex, enveloping the palate in a flowing, waxy sheen.
Pinot Gris
The spicier, more authoritative counterpart to Pinot Grigio. It’s the same varietal but offers more pronounced fruit flavors, stronger tannins, and a sumptuous texture.
Essential Wine Terms
Structure
Flavor intensity, body richness, acidity, and tannins are foundational elements that provide structure to wine. Wines with increased structure exhibit a more pronounced or lasting presence on the palate.
Minerality
From subtle hints of crushed salt to nuances of clay and gravel, minerality elevates wine beyond the immediate allure of fresh fruit and blossoms, anchoring it in a complexity that can taste both savory and saline.
Texture
A wine’s texture can vary from gritty with tannins (imagine heavy velvet or the roughness of a cat’s tongue) to fluid and rich like olive oil. Texture enhances the presence, weight, and character of the wine.
Maturation
Time in barrel or bottle adds depth, texture, and flavor intricacy to wine, enriching, rounding, and harmonizing its components. Oak barrels, in particular, impart distinctive spice, smokiness, and nuttiness.
Sweetness
Residual sugar often suffers from a negative reputation, partly due to overly sweet mass-market bottles. However, sweetness should not be dismissed entirely. When crafted with care, sweetness in wine is not cloying, but rather an impression of fruitiness, richness, or texture.
